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SummaCare Ordered to Suspend Medicare Enrollment

Akron-based SummaCare is under fire from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for allegedly mishandling supplemental coverage for Medicare recipients. For Ohio Public Radio, WKSU’s Kabir Bhatia reports.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ordered the insurance company to stop marketing efforts to enroll Medicare patients. The move follows an 11-day audit in June that found 38 instances of SummaCare failing to comply with the requirements for drug and supplemental Medicare coverage.

In a letter to the insurer this week, the federal agency said the violations stem from a lack of internal controls.

Elizabeth Schinderle with CMS said the suspension is in place until SummaCare has corrected the issues.

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